Imagine waking up every morning to the Mediterranean lapping outside your open terrace door and lazily rolling over to catch a glimpse the turquoise sea. Sure, it’s a common experience on any luxury cruise ship, but this is no cruise. It’s nhow Marseille, where each room is designed to feel like you’re aboard a ship minus that whole sea-sickness thing. When considering a trip to the South of France perhaps you’re researching locales like Cannes, but if you want to have this experience every morning, don’t forget about France’s second largest, oldest and most storied city, Marseille, Provence.

Hotel nhow Marseille (Courtesy of hotel)

Personally, no travel experience is complete without immersing myself in the culture, history, and natural beauty of my destination. With this in mind I ventured to Marseille to explore the foodie scene — so much fish, cheese and champagne, urban beaches, natural wonders, historical landmarks and charming cobblestone streets that make up the city designated as the 2013 European capital of culture (they’ll also be co-hosting the 2024 Olympic Games with several other French cities).

Why Marseille? nhow architect Christian Lefèvre explains that the difference between Marseille and typical destinations in the French Riviera is that Marseille has a specific kind of soul. He’s right; the city rattles and hums with an energy that’s both ancient and new, and it’s something that must be experienced firsthand. For savvy travelers who are hungry for a side of history and dose of culture with their Mediterranean getaway, Marseille doesn’t disappoint.

Founded in 600 B.C., this is a city that’s held onto its roots while also becoming a modern-day haven for eclectic artists. Whether you’re wandering through Le Panier, the city’s colorful old town, spending a day at Calanques National Park, venturing to Ile de Riou, or visiting the city’s best-known symbol, the Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica, Marseille offers hidden gems around every corner. And if it’s wine you’re after, you can take a food and wine tour in Provence’s wine country right from Marseille.

C’est si bon in Marseille. (Photo courtesy nhow Marseille)

While you can stay in Le Panier, try nhow Marseille, which Lefèvre calls a “major piece of heritage on the seaside.” Perched on the Corniche waterfront, almost leaning out over the sea, and located between the city center and Calanques National Park, nhow Marseille conjures up the feeling of traveling without moving. If you’ve always wanted to go on a Mediterranean luxury cruise, but you’re prone to seasickness, this is the next best thing.

With 30 standard rooms, five family rooms, 96 premium rooms, nine suites, and a penthouse, nhow Marseille offers comfort and luxury for every type of traveler. If you do want to stay in Le Panier, book a room at the just-opened NH Collection to treat yourself to an experience of simple elegance and meals full of local flavor at the hotel’s restaurant Tablafina after a day of urban exploration. Start with the cheese plate; you won’t be disappointed.

These two hotels couldn’t be more different, which is the beauty of NH Hotels. Each location is designed to reflect the local landscape and spirit. Marseille-based architects Claire Fatosme and Lefèvre designed nhow Marseille to reflect the city’s seductive contrast between dark and light. Enjoy three bars for cocktails, a restaurant serving up local fare, a seaside swimming pool to take in Marseille’s 300 days of uninterrupted sun, and a luxury phytomer spa that includes a pool powered by ancient thermal springs running beneath the hotel.

Before you leave, don’t forget to purchase something this city has been famous for since the 1300s as gifts for your friends and family back home — soap. Overall, Marseille has a magical quality you won’t soon forget. “It’s a very different vibe than you’ll experience in the rest of the French Riviera,” Fatosme says. Hit it up before it becomes too hip.

Brandi Neal is a staff writer at the women’s news and lifestyle website Bustle. She has also been published in Freshly Hatched, Ignite magazine, MovieMaker magazine, The Blue Room, Port City Life magazine, Portland magazine, Common Dreams, and more. She was a 2016 Idyllwild Arts Summer Writers Week Creative Nonfiction Fellow and a 2012 Summer Literary Series Workshop Fiction Fellowship finalist. Brandi has an MFA in creative writing from Stonecoast at the University of Southern Maine. She lives in Los Angeles with her special-needs dog, BiBi. Contact her at brandineal.com.

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